On Friday May 11, 2012 the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office was notified that Marcus Dupuis a former local work release inmate who had fled from a minimum security facility in downtown Lafayette in September 2011 had been captured after an encounter with Lyon County, Nevada Sheriff’s Deputies. Investigators from Lafayette Parish had learned in September 2011 that Dupuis headed west on a bus out of Lake Charles. Three of Dupuis’ associates were arrested for their roles in assisting him evade immediate capture in Lafayette. Lafayette Deputies were able to send some investigative leads to Nevada last Thursday.

According to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Deputies who had been briefed on Dupuis’ description and photograph observed three males at a truck stop, one of whom resembled Dupuis. Deputies approached the man who provided a false name and birth date. When the provided name yielded no records, Deputies decided to transport Dupuis to an Automated Fingerprint Identification Machine at a local police station. Deputies explained that because the man had no form of picture identification and no way of verifying his identity, Dupuis became aggressive and shoved one of the deputies. A police canine dog was deployed as Dupuis attempted to flee on foot. Dupuis is said to have ran a short distance before the police dog captured him. Dupuis suffered minor injuries and was booked into the county jail for misdemeanor assault and resisting arrest charges. The fingerprint process confirmed Dupuis’ identity and the charges of simple escape from Lafayette Parish were added.

The Louisiana Department of Corrections Fugitive Coordinator has begun the extradition process with the authorities in Nevada. It remains unknown at this point whether Dupuis intends to waive or fight extradition. Dupuis was serving a two-year sentence for violating his probation related to a possession of marijuana conviction. Once returned to Louisiana a trial date will be set in Lafayette Parish for the charge of simple escape and Dupuis will continue to serve the remainder of his two-year sentence.